Commentary (Obituary): Jibin Tan (1972–2020) Director of China CDC Center for Logistics Operation and Management

Jibin Tan, MPH, PhD, Director of China CDC Center for Logistics Operation and Management, and Vice Dean of the China CDC Graduate School, passed away at 02∶40 on December 20, 2020 at the age of 48.

Born in Jiaozhou City, Shandong Province in November 1972, Tan graduated from Jining Medical College and then received his MPH degree from Peking University School of Public Health and a PhD degree from the School of Public Health at Jilin University. He joined the Qingdao City Epidemic Response Station in July 1994.

After joining China CDC, he became director and core expert for the Global Fund’s tuberculosis control project and had undertaken roles for top-level design, organization, implementation, project management, and evaluation for the project. He had made outstanding contributions to China’s tuberculosis prevention and control work.

Tan was responsible for the new site office of China CDC and the Center for Logistics Operation and Management in 2009. He successfully completed the smooth and orderly relocation of China CDC to the Northern (Changping) Campus and created a modern office environment for employees, promoted socialized and integrated transformation of managing logistics, and established a refined operation management system by continuously researching modern logistics management and intelligent disease control campus construction and development.

In addition, he served as Vice Dean of the China CDC Graduate School and actively promoted improvement of basic conditions for postgraduate education. Tan was honored with numerous awards/ prizes including Outstanding Individual for Advancing the Eradication of Poliomyelitis in China.

In the face of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, Tan acted as the leader of the China CDC Safeguard Team and took initiative in overcoming extremely difficult challenges. When there were serious shortages of materials in the central emergency inventory, he extensively mobilized and actively coordinated the opening up of national emergency material safeguard channels. To ensure timely deployment of these supplies, he was tasked with coordinating the China CDC Safeguard Team response with three national ministries (National Health Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) to establish a point-to-point supply deployment mechanism. Tan made great contributions in our fight against COVID-19.

Tan was conscientious, sought the truth, pragmatic, selfless, and dedicated. He worked hard for the country until the day before his death with an emergent medical condition. He will be remembered dearly by his peers. His departure is a major loss for China CDC. Tan is survived by his wife, son, brother, and mother.